The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Venting Anger (1)

It was when the arachne was hiding in the trees above, targeting us.

"Just protect your head."

"What do you... kyaaah!!"

Ray, who had been holding me tightly, threw me without hesitation.

Without a shred of consideration.

Where did he get such strength from that delicate male body?

I rolled helplessly across the ground from his throw.

Thud. Roll roll roll.

"Ugh..."

I raised my upper body while groaning.

My arms and legs hurt from hitting the overgrown weeds and tree roots hidden between them.

My already disheveled appearance became even dirtier from the filthy soil.

"What are you doing in this situation!"

When the arachne could strike at any moment!

I couldn't understand my servant's actions, suddenly throwing me like that.

"I need to help quickly."

Because of his strange behavior, my servant was probably facing the arachne alone now.

I needed to hurry back to guard his back again.

After all.

-The signs aren't good. From this seemingly important altar standing alone without any guards, to this rotted tree reeking of blood.

I could hear the trembling in Ray's voice as he expressed his unease to me.

-It's ominous. Lady Siabel only ordered a simple search, not resolution.

I could sense the fear in his following words.

-Just once. Won't you follow my words just this once?

And I could understand his desperation in his final words.

I didn't want to leave him alone even for a moment while he nursed his fear of the arachne.

"Besides... I said I would protect you this time."

Moreover, when he had saved me once again from the orc's attack.

Since I had clearly sworn I would protect him next time.

My movements were quick.

Even while rolling on the ground, I hadn't let go of my bow.

Though it seemed somewhat damaged from multiple impacts, it still looked sufficient for shooting arrows.

As for arrows...

Though they had scattered everywhere while I was rolling.

I could easily gather those that had fallen around me.

Thud!

A loud impact sound came from far away.

Probably the sound of the arachne descending to the ground.

"I can't be too late."

I quickly nocked one of the gathered arrows.

As I smoothly drew the bowstring, I looked toward where my servant would be.

And where the arachne would be.

"Eh...?"

Finally, I witnessed it.

"...No."

The moment the arachne crushed my servant's left arm with its huge fangs.

I hadn't thought Ray had thrown me without reason.

But to think he would go so far as to let his arm be mangled to protect me.

"Why... just why...!"

Just what... just what value do I have for him to go this far...

My vision began to shake.

My focus that had been steadily aimed at the arachne crumbled.

The strength began leaving my arm drawing the bowstring.

As my arm that had been parallel to the ground bent.

The arrowhead supported by the bowstring drooped toward the ground.

Through my broken concentration, all I could see was Ray.

"Fuck, seriously!!"

He shouted something in an incomprehensible language with an agonized expression.

Well, with flesh being torn and bones being pierced, such pain.

It would be difficult to speak properly in such a situation.

I could keenly feel the pain he must be experiencing from his cry.

I needed to help him.

But with my body trembling like this, I couldn't shoot even a single arrow properly.

I took one step forward.

I needed to get closer to him.

My forward pace grew faster and faster.

But before I could reach him.

Without being able to provide any help.

He had already killed the arachne.

However, this was no time to cheer for his valuable victory.

"Hah... hah..."

Ray gasped for rough breaths.

To my ears, that sound.

Like the breathing of someone about to die.

Felt terribly ominous.

That's when.

Thud.

Ray collapsed backward helplessly like a knight who had given his all.

"No... please."

My heart began pounding fiercely.

The moment I remembered that the arachne's weapons included not just sticky threads but also deadly poison.

Anxiety that Ray might die crept up my spine.

"No, this can't be happening."

For some reason my vision began to blur.

From the sensation of something flowing down my face, I realized they were tears.

Ray turned his head to look at me.

"...Huh?"

But that was all.

Though his mouth seemed to move as if trying to say something.

In the end, he lost consciousness without saying anything.

I ran.

Reaching him, I fell to my knees, feeling like an infinitely small sinner before him.

"...Stop joking around and get up. That's an order."

"Didn't I tell you to get up?"

"Get up, I said!!"

No matter how loudly I shouted, he didn't move at all.

"Huu... uuk..."

A sobbing sound escaped without my realizing.

I embraced him.

I could feel his warmth.

Ray was still breathing strongly, though raggedly.

Only then could I think again about the thick blood seeping from his left arm.

"...Potion."

...There was definitely a medic and their separately organized tent at the camp.

There, they might be able to deal with his arm and the arachne's venom.

If only I could get him there in time.

"...Just hold on a little longer."

I picked Ray up and began running.

Held in my arms, he felt too delicate for someone who had just defeated an arachne to protect his master.

How could someone like this think to face an arachne alone...

What was he thinking, saying he would protect me?

The stronger my self-reproach grew, the faster I ran.

As soon as I reached the camp, I entered the medics' tent.

"Medic!"

"Lady Sione...? What brings you—"

The medic's gaze fixed on Ray in my arms.

Seeing his clearly abnormal condition, her demeanor became utterly serious.

"Could you explain how this happened?"

"We encountered an arachne. Can you treat him?"

"Good heavens, an arachne... Please lay him here so I can examine the wound."

When I laid Ray where the medic indicated, she immediately began examining his left arm.

"Though arachne's deadly venom quickly necrotizes flesh and skin... fortunately I don't see any signs of necrosis."

"That means..."

"If he wasn't exposed to the deadly venom, I should be able to provide sufficient emergency treatment."

Emergency treatment began.

His left arm was doused with several potions before being bandaged.

They made him drink another potion in case of possible poison.

Numerous potions went into his wounds and mouth.

Fortunately, the medic's urgent movements seemed effective.

Ray's expression, which had been twisted in pain throughout, visibly relaxed.

After the swift emergency treatment, he was moved to a cot at one end of the tent.

"This is only emergency treatment. After returning to the territory, he must be healed by a priest."

"I'll make sure of it. Thank you for your hard work."

"I'll handle the nursing, so Lady Sione—"

"No, that's fine. I'll stay and nurse him."

I brought over a small wooden chair from inside the tent and sat beside Ray.

As I sat quietly monitoring Ray's complexion, the medic bowed.

"Then I'll be in the next tent. Please find me immediately if the patient's condition worsens."

"Yes, thank you."

Even after the medic left, I watched Ray for a long time.

Inhale. Exhale.

Around when I was starting to feel somewhat relieved as he seemed to be sleeping peacefully without any problems.

I brushed back my hair.

My hair that I had cut along with the gloomy past that had crept into my room.

"Hah..."

Thinking of that made me sigh heavily involuntarily.

Though I had tried to cut away my gloomy past and dream of a righteous and bright future.

Looking back now, I had always been overly dependent on Ray, thinking he would protect me forever.

Indeed, he had always protected me from enemies and been the pillar supporting my fragile mind.

That was the problem.

How was I any different now from when I hid in my room?

My room, and this foolishly loyal servant of mine.

Thinking again, they were merely places for me to escape to.

"...I was such a fool."

Rather than having a mere male servant protect me.

I, as his master, should have protected him.

Without even the strength to protect one servant, I might lose the ally I'd finally found.

I only realized this after Ray ended up in this state.

My hands clenched involuntarily.

In my tightly closed fists.

I noticed my nails digging into my palms with a stinging pain.

"Until now, I've been intoxicated acting as if I were something special."

Coming out of my room, losing weight, starting archery.

None of these were things I had wanted to start myself.

Everything I had achieved until now was actually Ray's creation.

I had been deluding myself that all these things had been built purely through my own will and effort.

How ridiculous.

A coward who still tried only to hide or avoid anything dangerous or unpleasant, no different from before.

How strong did I think my will was, set in that hair I cut while drunk on vanity?

I was angry.

I wanted to vent my anger and truly change.

Just as I was swallowing my anger helplessly by myself.

"Sione!"

Siabel, who had returned to camp at some point, rushed into the tent.

Siabel's gaze moved from me to fix on Ray.

Her expression hardened at the blood-soaked bandages on his left arm.

Her sister spoke to her.

"Sister."

"...Could you explain what happened?"

"May I make one request?"

In their mismatched conversation.

Siabel briefly pressed her lips together as she met Sione's murky blue eyes.

"What request?"

"Would you spar with me right now, just once?"

"Denied. A spar when we only have sharp real swords in this situation? You might get seriously injured."

"Please."

"I said no."

Sione shook her head.

"It's fine if deep cuts cover my body. We have plenty of potions here for healing, don't we?"

"...What sister would want to leave sword marks on her sibling? Besides, you know well that potions aren't perfect healing medicines."

"I'll endure everything. Just this once, just one time now. Please?"

"...Can you tell me why you're suddenly requesting a spar with me?"

"The reason is simply..."

Sione closed her eyes briefly at Siabel's question.

"Just to vent my anger."

When her eyes opened again, they were cold and sharply honed.

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